Jeff Mandel gave away the lead on Friday and nearly the game on Saturday until Tug Hulett’s solo HR and Chris Marrero’s RBI single gave him the blown-save-win and the Chiefs an 8-7 victory. Tom Milone started and got the no-decision with four runs allowed on seven hits and a walk. He also struck out six.

Syracuse got five first-inning runs and cruised to an 8-3 victory in the “nightcap.” Craig Stammen got the win with seven strong innings, allowing all three Charlotte runs on eight its and two walks while striking out five. Michael Aubrey paced the offense with a 3-for-4 night, including a double and an RBI.The expected Yunesky Maya move has not officially occurred, but Collin Balester was optioned back from DC while Atahualpa Severino was activated from the DL

The Sens won their fifth straight with an 8-3 takedown of the Baysox. Shairon Martis tossed six scoreless innings to get the win, lowering his ERA to 3.57 while the quadrimvirate of Steve Lombardozzi, Tyler Moore, Derek Norris, and Stephen King combined for eight of the 14 Harrisburg hits, with Norris homering for the fifth time in his last nine games played.

A four-run eighth, highlighted by Adrian Sacnhez’s two-out, two-RBI single, powered the Suns past the Tourists for an 8-6 win in the completion. Relievers Matt Swynenberg and Ben Graham both gave up a run over two innings with Graham getting the decision. Sanchez led Hagerstown’s offense with a 3-for-5 effort and a stolen base.

Michael Taylor scored the tying run in the 6th and singled to left in the 9th, an error erasing the RBI, but not the game-winning run as the Suns swept the de facto doubleheader with a 2-1 win. Taylor Jordan started and went the first five innings, allowing an unearned run on four hits and a walk while setting down five on strikes. Wilson Eusebio, Chris Manno, and Neil Holland combine four four scoreless innings of relief with Holland getting the win.

A six-run top of the 9th, highlighted by a bases-clearing triple by Bienvenido Valdez, catapulted the D-Nats past the D-Rangersfor an improbable 8-7 win.
Ivan Pineyro (19 y.o.) started the game and struck out six but was touched for three runs on three hits and two walks. Inocencio Heredia got the win with two scoreless innings in relief. Two of the 2010 IFA Signees — Diomedes Eusebio, 1-4 @ 3B; Dioncio Rosario, 0-4 @ CF — were spotted in the lineup.

Agreed. Martis had a problem keeping the ball low in the zone. Yet another Nats AAAA type of pitcher that needs another pitch in his repetoire. Martis is one of the guys who could surprise us and put it all together.

I’ve commented as much before on Martis … but what exactly is he proving to us in AA? This is a guy who was in the Nats opening day rotation just two years ago. I realize he’s young, and perhaps I’m being a bit judgmental … but its the same story with Oliver Perez. Even when these types of guys throw 6 shutout innings, its really hard to get a takeaway from that. Shouldn’t a former major league pitcher consistently throw 6 shutout innings in the lower minor league levels?

I’ve commented as much before on Martis … but what exactly is he proving to us in AA? This is a guy who was in the Nats opening day rotation just two years ago.

At least he’s not taking up a 40-man spot.

He was placed on the 40-man by Segway Joy-riding Leather pants. The key is the last statement he’s not on the 40-man he’s been passed but he is still young.

In the case of Perez I guess he is like Yunesky Maya. He needs to show something now.

As far as the competition at that level. They have better pitchers (and in Perez’s case younger pitchers) ahead of them in AAA now. That was not the case as early as last year at this time. It shows vast improvement in pitching in the minor league system doesn’t it?

Martis lacks a reliable out pitch. If he could develop one (say, a forkball or cutter) to go along with his 4-seam/curve/slider repitoire, he’d gain value. Throwing 87-91 with one off-speed pitch isn’t going to interest anyone, including Rizzo at this point.